Ron Paul Takes Ads To New Heights

MESSAGE ON A BLIMP

Ron Paul Takes Ads To New Heights

If folks in New Hampshire have not had enough political advertising on their televisions, on their car radios, or in their mailboxes, soon they will be able to simply tilt their heads back and look up.

That's because supporters of Rep. Ron Paul's Republican campaign for president are leasing space on a blimp that will quietly float across the White Mountains beginning Dec. 15. Whether the unorthodox advertising technique proves worthwhile for the campaign efforts of Paul (Tex.) during the frigid (and cloudy) winter days in New Hampshire remains to be seen. But the blimp has caught the eye of campaign finance experts, who have questions about the legality of its financial arrangements.

The blimp is being run by Liberty Political Advertising, a for-profit company formed just for this purpose. The company is offering Paul supporters the chance to sponsor portions of the blimp's journey, ranging from $10 for one minute of "air time" to $1 million for 10 weeks. On the Ron Paul blimp's Web site, the organizers describe this arrangement as "the best of both worlds, no limits and virtually no regulations."

"The ad is on a blimp, but you can also think of it as a floating billboard," the group's Web site says. "It will fly for six hours per day generating advertising and publicity while on the ground as well as in the air. Blimp sponsors, the local media and nearby residents will be able to gather at landing sites to tour the blimp. Those with tickets will board for rides. Informal blimp parties will be organized at scheduled stops around the country as the blimp makes its way to key destinations for maximum public exposure."

Bradley Smith, a former Federal Election Commission chairman, is representing the group and says the for-profit arrangement is no different than if a company formed to sell T-shirts or coffee mugs with a candidate's name on it. Each contributor to the effort would be making his or her own independent expenditure. If that contribution is greater than $250, the donor will have to report it to the FEC. But there are no limits under this plan, which concerns some campaign finance experts.

Fred Wertheimer, who runs the campaign finance advocacy group Democracy 21, said that if the point of the enterprise is to influence the presidential race, it should be set up as a political action committee. That would mean not only disclosing the names of the donors, but limiting individuals to no more than $5,000 in contributions in one year.

"Is this a legitimate advertising company operating in the normal course of business? Or is it a sham operation created to evade the campaign finance laws by posing as an advertising company?" Wertheimer asked. "That's the issue here."

Campaign finance expert Rick Hasen, who teaches at Loyola Law School in California, said he agrees, and expects that the FEC will look into just that question. But probably not before the blimp gets aloft.

According to the Ron Paul Blimp Web site, a flight plan has been drafted that will send the airship over the District on Monday, and New York on Wednesday, before heading north.